Improvement in gold-separators



T. W. IRVI'N.

vlatented Nov. 7,1876.

GOLD-SEPARATOR.

No.184,0 8Z.

V @HHMU. I

momma THC GRAPHIC C0.N-\'- UNITED STATES.

THOMAS W. IRVIN, OF EUREKA, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT I N GOLD-SEPARATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 184,082, dated November7, 1876; application filed May 16, 1876.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS W. 1RVIN,'Of Eureka, in the county ofHumboldt and State of California, have invented a new and ImprovedGoldfieparator, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view, with partout off, of my improved gold-separator; Fig. 2, a vertical longitudinalsection of the same on line 0 0, Fig. 1; and Fig. 3, a detail top viewof the lowermost grating.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to an improved apparatus or machinet'or separatinggold from the gravel and earth as the same is funneled or worked off forremoval from the bank; and the invention consists of an exhaust-fanconnected with a separatingtube that is provided with gratings ofdifferent width, and with quicksilver at the lowest grating to separatethe finer and coarser particles of gold, while the heavy gravel isdischarged through the hopper, and the lighter dust through the exittubeof the fan.

1n the drawing, A represents a separatingtube, that is placed near thebank to be tunneled or worked off, the rock, dirt, and gravel being fedto the same by supply tubes A that are lengthened as the bank is dugaway from the apparatus. The excavated material passes through thesupply-pipes into the larger separating-tube, and is drawn through thesame bythe action of an exhaust-fan, B, whose side ducts B open into thedischarge or hopper end 0 of the separating-tube, and serve to keep thevalvegate O of the same closed. The separating-tube A is provided withthree or more gratings, D, of different kinds, the upper being thecoarsest, and having longitudinal grate-bars over which thelarge graveland bowlders pass, while the finer dirt falls through and strikes thesecond grating, whose lateral bars are closer together. The pulverizeddirt is drawn off through the fan and exhaust-tube, while the coarserparts pass out with the gravel and rocks through the hopper 4 and valve.The lowermost grating D is made finer, with longitudinal bars of metalrunning close together, as shown in Fig. 3, and being made with widerspaces near the hopper end byshortening some of the alternatinggratebars. The bottom part of the separating-tube A is filled up to alevel with the lowermost grating D with quicksilver, which extracts thefine gold particles that pass downward by their heavier Weight, whilethe coarser gold particles pass on to the wider grate-section at .theend, and are there absorbed by the quicksilver, which is arranged nearthe end at greater depth.

The separating-tube A is constructed of wood and lined with sheet metalat the places exposed to wear. The gratings are made of iron bars, andthe main and smaller tubes in sections, to enable the same to be takento pieces and readily set up again for greater or smaller distances.

During the passage of the material over the grating, the heavier partsare kept separate from the smaller finer gravel and dirt, the dirtstriking the second grating and passing to thelower grating for theextraction of gold.

The gold-bearing earth and gravel may, by this apparatus, be treated ineffective manner as soon as worked off the bank, and the gold beseparated by the mechanical action of the grating and the affinity ofthe quicksilver.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, isr A goldseparator consisting of tube A,having supply-tubes A and valved hopper O, the suction-fan B, and thegratings D of varying fineness, space being left beneath the latter forquicksilver, as shown and described.

J. M. W. RoLLINs, JAMES C. SMILEY.

